IN THE HIGH COURT OF MADHYA PRADESH AT INDORE
GAJENDRA SINGH, J.
Trapti Swami – Appellant
Versus
Vijay Swami – Respondent
Criminal Revision No. 3221 of 2019
Decided On : 15-09-2025
Criminal P.C. 1973 -- S. 125 -- Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 -- Ss. 5 and 11 -- maintenance -- Family Court not within jurisdiction in dismissing application for maintenance at primary stage without recording evidence -- facts regarding concealment of earlier marriage of wife and separation can be decided on appreciation of evidence only -- interim maintenance of Rs. 20,000/- per month allowed -- matter remitted back for trial and conclusion of main application of maintenance. 2025 INSC 129 followed. Manu/SC/0579/1988, (1988) 1 SCC 337, Manu/SC/0193/2005, II (1988) DMC 181, II (1989) DMC 425, Manu/MP/0021/2006, II (2006) DMC 358358 (Patna), II (2015) DMC 357 (All.) and II (2015) DMC 533 (CG) referred to. [Paras 15 to 18]
naM çfØ;k lafgrk] 1973 & èkkjk 125 & fganw fookg vfèkfu;e] 1955 & èkkjk 5 rFkk 11 & Òj.ki¨"k.k & lk{; vfÒfyf[kr fd, fcuk] çkFkfed çØe ij Òj.ki¨"k.k vkosnu [kkfjt djuk dqVqac U;k;ky; dh vfèkdkfjrk d¢ Òhrj ugÈ & iRuh dk iwoZorÊ fookg rFkk i`FkDdj.k fNik, tkus ls lacafèkr rF;ksa dk fofu'p;u lk{; d¢ ewY;kadu ij gh fd;k tk ldrk gS & #i;s 20]000@& dk varfje Òj.ki¨"k.k eatwj & Òj.ki¨"k.k d¢ eq[; vkosnu d¢ fopkj.k rFkk fu"d"kZ d¢ fy, ekeyk çfrçsf"krA 2025 vkb,u,llh 129 vuqlfjrA euq@,llh@0579@1988] ¼1988½ 1 ,llhlh 337] euq@,llh@0193@2005] ¼1988½ 2 Mh,elh 181] ¼1989½ 2 Mh,elh 424] euq@,eih@0021@2006] ¼2006½ 2 Mh,elh 358358 ¼iVuk½] ¼2015½ 2 Mh,elh 357 ¼bykŒ½ rFkk ¼2015½ 2 Mh,elh 533 ¼Nx½ fufnZ"VA ¼iSjk 15 ls 18½
ORDER :
1. This criminal revision is preferred being aggrieved by the order dated 12.06.2019 passed in Criminal MJC No.346/2018 by Principal Judge, Family Court, Ratlam whereby the application for maintenance under Section 125 of Cr.P.C. 1973 has been rejected at preliminary stage on the ground that her marriage dated 11.10.2017 with the respondent/husband is void under Section 11 of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955.
2. Facts of the case in brief are that the revision petitioner/applicant filed an application under Section 125 of Cr.P.C 1973 before the Principle Judge, Family Court, Ratlam on 13.11.2018 claiming maintenance of Rs.35,000/- with assertion that the marriage was solemnized on 11.10.2017 as per Hindu Rituals including Saptpadi at Ujala Place, Ratlam and they got registered the marriage and live as husband and wife. It is further alleged that this was their second marriage, both were earlier married and previous marriage of both the parties were dissolved by the decree of divorce. The factum of earlier marriage and divorce were communicated by both the parties to each other and the family members and the memorandum of facts were also recorded. It was further asserted that within the short period of marriage, the behaviour of husband and family members turned cruel. In the month of November, 2017, revision petitioner/wife and husband/respondent went on a trip to Thailand but on Thailand trip also, she was subjected to cruelty including physical assault. The respondent/husband always put a question mark on the fidelity of the petitioner/wife and leveling allegations of extra marital affairs and put resistance even on her routine. He used to record her conversation and extending the threat, he got recorded the voice of wife and prepared videos to create false evidence. When she tried to make aware the attitude of the husband to mother and father-in-law then they also subjected her to cruel behaviour and demanded Rs.25,00,000/-. In the year 2018, she was beaten with cruelty and due to which she sustained fracture in her lag. Respondent/husband got transferred to Hydrabad in relation to his job in software company and petitioner/wife resided with the parents of the respondent/husband where she was subjected to cruelty. She was extended threat of life and on 23.09.2018 also, she was assaulted physically thereafter, from 25.09.2018, she is residing separate at Ratlam. She has no source of income and she has not been provided any maintenance whereas, she needs Rs.30000/- per month for maintenance. The respondent/husband is a software engineer, he earns Rs.1,20,000/- per month as a job in Tech Link Software Pvt. Ltd. Company at Hydrabad.
3. Revision petitioner also filed an application for interim maintenance.
4. The notice was served upon the respondent/husband and learned Family Court Ratlam conducted a mediation, but the same was unsuccessful. Family Court, Ratlam rejected the application for interim maintenance vide order dated 12.06.2019 with a finding that rejection of interim maintenance will not affect the claim of wife on merits.
5. The respondent/husband filed a MCRC No.17496/2019 before this Court challenging the Registration of application under Section 125 of Cr.P.C., 1973 on the ground that the marriage is void, hence, the proceedings are liable to quash. Vide order dated 13.05.2019, the Co-ordinate bench of this Court dismissed the said application recording finding that:-
"As on today, there is a marriage between petitioner and respondent because the petitioner is seeking the decree that marriage be declared as void. It is for the petitioner to raise all these objections before the family court in a proceedings under section 125 of Cr.P.C. The competent Court is yet to apply his mind on the objection which is yet to be taken by the petitioner before the Family Court. Petitioner is free to raise this objection before the Family Court. Hence, no case for interference at this stage is made out. Petition is accordingly dis
`(1) Only a legally wedded wife can claim maintenance under Section 125 of Cr.P.C.(2) Decree of divorce can only be granted by Court and divorce by agreement is not valid in eyes of law.
A second wife can claim maintenance under Section 125 of the Cr.P.C. even if her first marriage is allegedly subsisting, emphasizing social justice and protecting vulnerable individuals.
Term ‘wife’ in Section 125 of Code of Criminal Procedure, includes a woman who has been divorced by a husband or who has obtained a divorce from her husband and has not remarried.
Once such presumption of a lawful marriage commenced to operate in favour of a marriage which has taken place in fact, such a presumption alone would be good enough to entitle the wife to maintain.
(1) Standard of proof of marriage in a Section 125, Cr.P.C. proceeding is not as strict as is required in a trial for an offence under Section 494 IPC.(2) Order passed in application under Section 12....
Point of Law : The principles of Hindu Personal Law have developed in an evolutionary way out of concern for all those subject to it so as to make fair provision against destitution. The manifest pur....
Login now and unlock free premium legal research
Login to SupremeToday AI and access free legal analysis, AI highlights, and smart tools.
Login
now!
India’s Legal research and Law Firm App, Download now!
Copyright © 2023 Vikas Info Solution Pvt Ltd. All Rights Reserved.